DMDK MLAs evicted as Tamil Nadu Assembly sees uproar

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Assembly today witnessed an uproar over remarks by Deputy Leader of the Opposition against AIADMK supremo, with DMDK members throwing away documents and damaging a portion of the Speaker's podium.

The trouble began after Deputy Leader of the Opposition Azhagapuram Mohanraj passed a remark against the AIADMK supremo without naming her.

The treasury bench, all 151 AIADMK MLAs, led by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam leapt to their feet demanding stern action against him.

The Speaker expunged the remark and said Mohanraj was obstructing proceedings and ordered him evicted. Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) MLAs then rushed towards the Speaker's podium and tried to prevent it.

DMDK whip V C Chandrakumar in doing so also tried to obstruct the Marshals, who surrounded him and other DMDK members. In the melee, Chandrakumar and others tried to wriggle out, shouted slogans and accused the Speaker of only ordering the eviction of their party whip.

They damaged a portion of the Speaker's podium, pushed it away and flung documents around.

Ultimately, all DMDK members were evicted and the action referred to the Privileges Committee. The members squatted on the lawns outside the assembly and shouted slogans.

The Speaker labelled the incident as a historic low in the annals of the Assembly.

"They tried to attack me, the Speaker himself, my podium was pushed away, documents were damaged... this House is witness to it. I strongly condemn it. I call upon the Leader of the House to suggest what kind of action should be initiated," he said.

Describing the conduct of DMDK members and in particular of Chandrakumar as an attempt at a murderous attack, Leader of the House Natham Viswanathan moved a resolution seeking suspension of Chandrakumar and other DMDK members for the remainder of the current session.

He said their conduct was "obstruction of House proceedings, atrocious and a big blot. Documents were flung, marshal's cap was snatched and thrown away, it is a big wrongdoing, an offence."

The motion was later adopted by the House.